KENT Nutrition Group Wins Golden Hammer for Habitat for Humanity Build
MUSCATINE, Iowa (March 27, 2023) – Muscatine County Area Habitat for Humanity presented KENT Corporation subsidiary, KENT Nutrition Group with the inaugural “Golden Hammer” award on Monday, March 20. In the spirit of friendly competition, the Golden Hammer recognizes a volunteer team for going above and beyond during Habitat’s home construction process.
Muscatine’s Ross family got the keys to their new home earlier this year. At the dedication, Muscatine Habitat for Humanity president, Don Lampe, promised one area business would be awarded the “Golden Hammer” for above-and-beyond volunteerism efforts. Monday’s private award ceremony in KENT’s Headquarters lobby was the culmination of that promise. Those in attendance at the ceremony included KENT stakeholders from across the KENT family of companies who worked on the house.
“The thirteenth Habitat for Humanity home was built in six months, three months faster than what it has historically taken,” said Don Lampe, Muscatine Habitat for Humanity President while at KENT. “This can be attributed to generous community involvement, and from KENT Corporation who sent five total teams to the build site.”
Volunteers from KENT included employees from Grain Processing Corporation, KENT Nutrition Group, KENT Pet Group, KENT Precision Foods Group and KENT Shared Services.
“Habitat for Humanity’s housing projects are highly organized and having a larger team helped us get a lot done,” said Michael Edmonds, a Swine & Poultry Nutritionist for KENT Nutrition Group who helped with the house. “It is so rewarding to support hard-working people who need a little break. We, as volunteers, will forever be linked to the family.”
“From wrapping the roof to sawing wood for the stairs, we made significant progress in just one day,” said another volunteer, Kelsey Bell, KENT Nutrition Group’s Quality Assurance Manager. “Witnessing the positive influence we had on a family made all the hard work worthwhile.”
Habitat for Humanity is funded completely by donations and builds affordable homes alongside deserving families who may otherwise struggle to invest in a home on their own. Community volunteers and area businesses amiably join in as part of the process.
Lampe believes friendly competition drives folks to do a little more. The nonprofit is currently exploring additional ways to engage even more community support as two more homes will be built in the next 18 months, one of which will be a 3D cement-printed home.
“This is just the beginning of Muscatine’s revitalization plans, and we look forward to continuing to fulfill the need for affordable housing with help from volunteers and organizations like KENT,” said Lampe.
